Authorities ramp up efforts to meet critical needs amid coronavirus pandemic

New York is the most impacted state in the U.S. from coronavirus, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo is considering adding hospital beds inside the Westchester County Center.

News 12 Staff

Mar 21, 2020, 8:56 PM

Updated 1,495 days ago

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New York is the most impacted state in the U.S. from coronavirus, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo is considering adding hospital beds inside the Westchester County Center.
The center, in White Plains, could be converted to accommodate hundreds of beds. It was one of over a dozen sites looked at for temporary hospitals.
Cuomo says final approval of the sites, which will increase hospital capacity, must come from the federal government.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer says he is also recommending several locations in the county that could serve patients' needs. He says Arrowood, Congers Center and the College of New Rochelle could be used as temporary hospital sites.
Cuomo says he plans to visit a number of proposed treatment sites.
The state is also considering manufacturing its own face masks, similar to how it is already making its own hand sanitizer and handing it out for free.
Immediate trials for drug therapy were also announced Saturday during a press conference.
Tarrytown-based biotech company Regeneron is also working on other drug therapies. Cuomo exempted the company from a work order which forces 100% of a business' workforce to stay home.
He says the company's findings are promising. As News 12 previously reported, Regeneron is developing a multi-antibody cocktail to help prevent coronavirus before exposure and expects to begin clinical studies this summer.
PHOTOS: The impact of coronavirus around the world
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